Loading device for portable guns.



A. KKSTNER.

LOADING DEVICE FOR PORTABLE GUNS.

APPLICATION IILBD MAB. 1, 1810.

Patented 0013.1, 1912.

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Mg muaanul A. KKSTNER.

LOADING DEVICE FOR PORTABLE GUNS.

APPLICATION TILED MAR. 1, 1910. 1,040,210. Patented Oct. 1, 1912.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ALFRED KASTNER, 0F ESSEN-ON-THE-RUHR, GERMANY, ASSIGNOR TO FRIED. KRUPPAKTIENGESELLSCHAFT, OF ESSEN-ON-THE-RUI-IR, GERMANY.

LOADING DEVICE FOR PORTABLE GUNS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct 1, 1912.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ALFRED KASTNER, a subject of the Emperor of Germany,and a resident of Essen-on-the-Ruhr, Germany, have invented certain newand useful Improvements in Loading Devices for Portable Guns, of whichthe following is a specification.

The subject of the present invention constitutes a loading device forthose portable guns, the barrels of which are adjustable laterally,relatively to the undermount.

The purpose of the invention is to so arrange the loading device thatthe ammunition can be presented in line with the axis of the bore, evenwhen the gun barrel has been swung to one side on the mount. Thispurpose is attained, according to the invention, by having the loadingtray, intended to receive the ammunition, shiftable in a guide on itscarrier that is arranged upon the mount, the said guide being concentricwith the vertical axis about which the gun barrel swings in its lateraladjustment.

One embodiment of the present invention is shown, by way ofillustratlon, in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a sideview of the loading device and the parts of a portable gun therewithconcerned; Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the parts shown in Fig. 1,adjusted to another position; Fig. 3 is a section on the line 3-3 ofFig. 2, on a larger scale; Fig. 4 is a section on the line 44 of Fig. 3,seen from the left; Fig. 5 is a top plan view of Fig. 3, partly insection, and with the loading tray omitted; Fig. 6 is a section on theline 6-6 of Fig. 5; and Fig. 7 is a section on the line 7-7 of Fig. 3,seen from the right.

The gun barrel A is guided upon the slidetrack carrier P, which isswingingly mounted through the medium of horizontal trunnions p in theupper-mount The uppermount R is supported on the undermount B and isadapted to swing thereon about the axis of a vertical trunnion 7", abearing 5 for which is provided in the undermount.

. For swinging the upper-mount R relatively to the undermount B, asuitable training mechanism (not shown in the drawing) will beintroduced between the upper and under mounts. Furthermore, it will beassumed that a suitable elevating mechanism (not shown) will beintroduced between the upv per-mount R and the slide-track carrier P,through the medium of which the slidetrack carrier is swung about theaxis of the horizontal trunnions p. The training means can be of anydesired construction.

The loading apparatus is as follows Upon each of the two cheeks of theunder mount B and upon the bearings 6 (Figs. 1

and 2) are jointed a pair of links 0. The axes of the bearings 12 areperpendicular to the vertical plane of the longitudinal axis of the gun.Each pair of links C has jointed connection with a frame D. Upon theframe D is secured a table S, upon which a slide E is movably guided.With the slide E, the loading tray F, which serves to receive theammunition T (Fig. l) is removahly connected. Each pair of links Cconstitute together with the appurtenant cheek of the undermount B andthe appurtenant frame D, a jointed parallelogram. Each of the frames Dhas two difierent lengthed perpendicular legs cl and 0Z through which itrests in the laid-over position of the loading device (compare brokenline position in Fig. l and full line position in Fig. 2) upon yieldingabutments 6 (Fig. 1) which are arranged upon the inclined cover plate B(l ig. 2) of the undermount. For guiding the slide E upon the table S, aclaw 6 serves, which is provided on the side of the slide presentedtoward the gun barrel and extends over the entire breadth of the slide;also a pair of claws 6 mounted on the side of the slide away from thegun barrel. The claws e and e grip the corresponding edges of the tableS and are guided upon. these edges. The abutting vertical guidingsurfaces of the aforesaid guiding parts are curved on an arc whosecenter coincides with theaxis of the trunnion 1", when the loadingdevice assumes the loading position indicated in full lines in Fig. 1.For reducing friction between the table S and the slide E, rollers G areprovided which are journaled in the housing e mounted upon the slide E.The table S has two abutments s and 8 (Figs. 4t and 5) which limit themovement of the slide E upon the table S.

The upper walls of the roller housings e are curved (Figs. 4 and 7) anddesigned to carry the loading tray F. For connecting side of the slide Ewhich is turned toward the gun barrel A, is a claw e beneath which acorresponding claw f on the loading tray F can engage (Fig. 3).Furthermore, the slide E is provided on its side presented away from thegun barrel with two hooked-shaped projections e (Figs. 3 to 5). Withthese projections, a broad nose is of a bolt K (Figs. 4 and 7) can enterinto engagement, this bolt being mounted in a housing f on the underside of the loading tray F and acted upon by a spring The projections eare provided with bevelse, which act upon the corresponding incline 70of the nose k of the bolt K and press the latter into the housing f whenthe loading tray F is placed upon the slide E. Between the projections eand upon a bolt i resting in these projections, is mounted a weightedlever J. This lever is provided with a spur tooth 71 (Figs. 3 and, 5)which can enter into engagement with seats 8 (Figs. 3, 5 and 7) which isprovided in the table S. To each of the rests s corres ends a divisionmark of an angle scale 8* Fig.5) which is located upon the table S. Thepointer belonging to the scale s, is provied by the longitudinal edge c(Fig. 5) of the slide E. The lever J carries a finger 2', by means ofwhich the nose 7a of the bolt K can be thrown out of en gagement withthe projections e", by throwing the lever J. Secured to a flange of theloading tray F is an annularbufier f (Figs. 1 and 2) of rubber or thelike. Through the medium of this buffer, the loading tray abuts againstthe breech of the gun barrel, when the loading device is swung into theloading position. At the base of the loading tray, there are two keepers7 (Figs. 1 and 2) for the carrying bars N (Fig. 2).

Previous to loading the gun, the loading device assumes the positionshown in Fig. 2. After the nose 70 of the bolt K has been moved out ofengagement with the projection 0 of the slide E, through the lifting ofthe hand lever J acting through the medium of the finger 71 the loadingtray is lifted from the slide. The ammunition is then brought to the gunupon the loading tray and the loading tray is again placed in positionupon the slide E, the claws f and 6 being brought into engagement witheach other. If the loading tray is now pressed downward, the bolt K ispressed backward by the impingement of its inclined face 76 with theinclined face 6 of the projections e and is then brought into thelocking engagement with the projections e, by means of its spring 70 Incase the gun barrel, which has been brought into loading positionprevious to loading, for example, by means of the elevating mechanism,has been swung laterally from its intermediate position, the loadingtray, together with the own weight back to the position in which itstooth i engages in one of the seats 8 Finally, the loading device is.swung through the medium of the bars N, toward the gun barrel. When theloading tray abuts against the breech of the gun barrel, through themedium'of the bufi'er f (Fig.

1) it is suddenly arrested, while the ammunition T, in consequence ofits developed inertia, slides partially into the chamber of the gunbarrel. After the ammunition has been completely introduced, through themedium of a rammer, the loading device is again thrown back.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new therein anddesire to secure by Letters Patent is 1. In combination with a portablegun having an undermount and an upper-mount laterally adjustable thereonabout a vertical axis; a loading device comprising a suitable carriermounted upon the undermount and a loading tray suitably mounted uponsaid carrier with lateral adjustment in an arc concentric with thevertical axis of lateral adjustment of the upper-mount.

2. In combination with a portable gun having an undermount andanupper-rnount laterally adjustable thereon about a vertical axis; aloading device comprising a carrier mounted upon the undermount andmovable longitudinally of the gun, and a loading tray supported by saidcarrier and movable thereon laterally in an arc concentric with thevertical axis of adjustment of the upper-mount.

3. In a loading device for portable guns having an undermount and inwhich the gun barrel swings laterally upon a vertical trunnion, acarrier having freedom of longitudinal movement on the undermount, aloading trayl mounted upon said carrier with lateral adjustment and aguide enforcing movement of the tray upon the carrier, in an arcconcentric with the center of lateral adjustment of the gun barrel.

4:- In a loading apparatus for portable guns having an undermount and abarrel laterally adjustable relatively to the undermount, a loading trayadapted to receive the ammunition, a suitable carrier arranged upon theundermount and upon which said loading tray is mounted, and a connectionbetween the loading tray and the carrier, which permits lateraladjustment of the Loading.

loading tray and guides it in an are concentric with the center oflateral adjustment of the gun barrel.

5. In a loading device for portable guns having a barrel laterallyadjustable about a vertical pivot, a carrier and a loading trayremovably mounted on said carrier and adjustable thereon in an arcconcentric with the vertical pivot of the gun barrel.

.6. In a loading device for a portable gun having a barrel adjustablehorizontally upon a vertical trunnion, a suitable carrier, a slidemounted upon said carrier and laterally adjustable thereon in an arcconcentric with the axis of the vertical trunnion of the gun barrel, anda loading tray mounted upon said slide.

7. In a loading device for a portable gun having abarrel adjustablehorizontally upon a vertical trunnion, a suitable carrier, a slidemounted upon said carrier and laterally adjustable thereon in an arcconcentric with the axis of the vertical trunnion of the gun barrel, anda loading tray removably mounted upon said slide.

8. In a portable gun having an undermount and a barrel laterallyadjustable about a vertical axis; a loading device comprising a tablelongitudinally movable upon the undermount, a slide mounted upon saidtable with lateral movement and a guide causing the slide, in itslateral movement, to follow a path concentric with the vertical axis oflateral adjustment of the gun barrel.

9. In a portable gun having an undermount and a barrel laterallyadjustable about a vertical axis upon said undermount; a loading devicecomprising a table movable longitudinally upon the undermount, a slidehaving roller bearings located to permit the slide to move laterallyupon the table, means causing the slide to travel in a path concentricwith the vertical axis about which the gun barrel is adjusted and aloading tray mounted upon said slide.

10. In a portable gun having an undermount and a barrel laterallyadjustable about a vertical axis upon said undermount; a slide, rollersthrough the medium of which the slide is movably mounted upon the table,a

loading tray, and housings for the rollers constructed to tray.

11. In a portable gun having a laterally adjustable barrel, a loadingmeans comprising a suitable carrier, a slide mounted on the carrier, aloading tray mounted upon the slide, and readily releasable means forconnecting the loading tray with the slide comprising a pair ofinterengaging claws mounted respectively on theloading tray and theslide and a locking bolt and its seatalso mounted respectively upon theloading tray and slide.

provide a seat to the loading 12. In a portable gun having anundermount, a barrel laterally adjustable upon said undermount, asuitable carrier, hmged to the undermount, a loading tray mounted on thecarrier and readily releasable means for securing the loading tray toits carrier, consisting of claws and an automatic engaging latchpreventing longitudlnal and hit ing movement of the loading tray on ltscarrier, said carrier constructed to transfer the ammunition to the gunin a horizontal position.

13. In a loading device for portable guns having a barrel laterallyadjustable upon a vertical trunnion,a slide laterally adjustable aroundthe axis of said trunnion and having means adapting it to receive andsupport the ammunition, and a toothed locking gear for locking the slidein adjusted position comprising ad'ogging tooth mounted upon one of theparts to be interlocked and a series of notches mounted on. the other ofsaid parts in position to receive said dogging tooth.

14:. In a portable gun having a laterally adjustable barrel, a laterallyadjustable loading means comprising a suitable carrier movablelongitudinally on the gun, a slide, having means through which it isadapted to receive and support the ammunition, laterally adjustable onthe carrier to permit it to present the ammunition in line with the boreof the gun, and an indicator for determining the extent of lateraladjustment of the slide previouslyto advancing the loading device to thegun barrel.

15. In a loading device for a portable gun having laterally adjustablebarrel, a carrier movable longitudinally on the gun and having means forreceiving ammunition laterally adjustable relatively to the carrier forthe purpose of presenting the ammunition in line with the bore of thegun barrel, an indicator to permit of preadjustment of the ammunitionreceiving means to correspond with the lateral adjustment of the gunbarrel, and means for fixing the ammunition receiving means in theposition to which it is adjuste 16. In a loading device for portableguns having laterally adjustable barrels, a suitable carrier, anammunition receiving means mounted with lateral adjustment on saidcarrier and means for interlocking said parts to fix the lateraladjustment of said ammunition receiving means comprising a pivoted leverhaving a dogging tooth, mounted upon one of the parts to be interlockedand a series of notches or seatsmounted on the other of said parts inposition to receive said dogging tooth.

17. A loading device for portable guns having laterally adjustablebarrels comprising a suitable carrier, a slide mounted on said carrierwith lateral adjustment, means for interlocking the slide with thecarrier for the purpose of fixing the lateral adjust- --ment, consistingof a lever mounted on the carrier and having a dogging tooth adapted toengage the slide in the different positions of the latter, a loadingtra-y fitted to said slide, readily releasable means for interlockingthe loading tray with the slide, and means carried by the said lever forreleasing the means, which interlocks the tray with the slide.

18. In a loading device for guns having laterally adjustable barrels,the combination of a suitable carrier, a slide mounted upon said carrierwith lateral adjustment, a pivoted lever mounted on the carrier having adogging tooth adapted to engage the slide Copies of this patent may beobtained for to fix it in difierent positions to which it is adjusted, aloading tray mounted upon the slide, a latching bolt for preventmgdlsplacement of the loading tray from the slide and a finger carried bythe lever adapted to displace the latching bolt and release the loadingtray when the lever is moved to a position, which brings its doggingtooth out of engagement with the tray.

The foregoing specification signed at Barmen, Germany, this 15th day ofFebruary,

ALFRED KASTNER. [1 8.] In presence of OTTO Kome, CHAS. J. WRIGHT.

five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Iatents, Washington,D. G.

